Dinoblue coasts home in Opera Hat to line up Mares' Chase defence at Cheltenham next month

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Dinoblue barely came out of second gear to land back-to-back wins in the Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase under Mark Walsh, breezing through her preparation for the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Walsh kept matters simple on the 1-8 favourite, who made all and travelled powerfully for a smooth11-length success. She led home a 1-2-3 for owner JP McManus with Bioluminescence and Uhavemeinstiches filling the next two places.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old is unchanged as 7-4 favourite with the race sponsors to follow up last year's win in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at Cheltenham.

"She's a great bit of stuff," said Frank Berry, McManus's racing manager. "She turns up every day and you can set your clock by her. Mark was delighted with her. She jumped great and handles the ground. You couldn't ask for better really. It's a nice prep [for Cheltenham] and you couldn't be happier."

Dinoblue has dominated the mares' chase division in the past 12 months and this was her fifth consecutive win against her own sex, going back to last year's Opera Hat. 

Elliott hits 150

Gordon Elliott hit his latest milestone for the season when Gigginstown's Jalon D'Oudairies landed the 2m2½f maiden hurdle, bringing up the 150th domestic winner of the campaign for Cullentra House.

The 1-10 favourite never came off the bridle for a 27-length success under Jack Kennedy after two promising runner-up efforts at Cork and Leopardstown this season.

Gordon Elliott (right) after Jalon D'Oudairies brought up his 150 in Ireland for the season in the 2m2½f maiden hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I liked the way he went from the last to the line, even though it wasn’t the strongest race in the world," said Elliott. "I’ll talk to Michael and Eddie [O'Leary]. We'll see about Cheltenham but we also have Fairyhouse and there's prize-money to be won in Ireland as well. Jack said he gave him a good feel."

Elliott and Kennedy also teamed up with Highland Crystal earlier on the card and she extended her unbeaten sequence to three in the 1m7½f rated hurdle.

A Listed winner at Newbury in November, the 11-8 shot showed an excellent attitude to repel Saratoga by three-quarters of a length. 

Band Of Outlaws (2018), Aramax (2020) and Brazil (2022) went on to land the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham after scoring in this race and Highland Crystal was introduced as a 12-1 shot for that contest by Paddy Power and remained a 20-1 chance for the Triumph.

"Jack said it wasn’t really ideal being in front as she was looking around the whole way," said Elliott. "She’s probably more of a Fred Winter filly but we’ll see what sort of mark she gets. We could keep her for Fairyhouse over two and a half miles."

Barry off the mark

Brian Barry enjoyed his first success as a professional when he guided the Philip Rothwell-trained Hesgonethatway to an 11-length victory in the 1m7½f handicap hurdle.

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